Boston sports boom piques this fan’s interest

Is there any way you could describe the excitement that’s in the air from being a Boston sports fan nowadays?

Robert Russo

Is there any way you could describe the excitement that’s in the air from being a Boston sports fan nowadays?

Many people would opine that this is the best time of the year, with foliage playing a role in the deal. But this fall alone has brought two former Minnesota superstars, Kevin “Big Ticket” Garnett and Randy Moss, to town to compete with the falling leaves. They have been reunited with David Ortiz, who once played for the Minnesota Twins.

Boston is just spilling over with talent, and Sox Nation in particular has spread the wealth across the Globe thanks to Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Garnett has brought instant hope and promise to fans that still hold onto their pride from the original Big Three of the 1980s to Tommy Heinsohn sound bites.

Head down Route 95 to Title Town U.S.A., some spell it Foxboro, others Foxborough, where three Super Bowl banners hang in beautiful Gillette Stadium.

Early in the season, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was accused of taking naughty pictures to get an edge on opponents — OK, OK cheating. But after winning their first seven games, the NFL as a whole seems to fear this star-studded squad more than ever.

Opponents have suffered losses typical of recent video game releases. If there was any knock on the Golden Child Tom Brady, it was that he never had Peyton Manning numbers.

But this year, Brady is on pace to break every passing and touchdown record in the league. The Patriots are so good that it almost looks easy, with Brady dropping back and throwing the ball up in Hail Mary fashion only to be caught by Moss. There was a time when the controversial Moss was quoted as saying “just throw me the ball, dog, and I’ll go up and get it.” But this year, the sky’s the limit for him, as well as the rest of the Patriots.

In the heart of Lansdowne Street, you can still see the glow in everybody’s face from local letter carriers to the gas attendant on the corner. The local nine have done it once again overcoming adversity trailing 3-1 to the Cleveland Indians, before coming back to beat the tribe for the American League pennant and their second trip to the World Series in four years.

The American League Championship was a rollercoaster ride from instant joy to sudden disappointment, only to come back from the ashes with the help from yet another Kevin Millar rally?

OK, the Red Sox called down to Baltimore asking permission for Millar to throw out the first pitch in Game 7. It was an awkward, but yet another successful idea.

This season was the changing of the guard in the Boston/New York rivalry. It’s always hard to see it while it’s happening, but this was an end of an era. The Red Sox jumped out of the gate with an early lead on the Evil Empire, and never looked back.

The Yankees responded the only way they know how by signing an over-the-hill over-priced and at this point overrated hurler by the name of Roger Clemens. Granted the Yankees with help from MVP Alex Rodriguez got hot late and did give Sox fans another here we go again sinking feeling.

But the 2007 Red Sox proved that they don’t scare easy. Winning the American League East for the first time in 12 years, they fended off the Yankees for yet another mission accomplished for these new owners.

So as I sat on my couch watching the Sox keep an even keel in order to beat the overachieving Cleveland Indians, I know Derek Jeter and his teammates did the same thing, as well.

That doesn’t sit well in a city like New York, and for the first time in 12 years they fired their manager. Gone is Joe Torre, who had led the Yankees to four World Championships and 12 straight postseason appearances.

The Yankees have not tasted champagne in seven years, and so in turn class act Joe Torre was somewhat forced out with a pay cut offer from management.

And so after winning the division title and the AL pennant, the Red Sox are now the Yankees without pinstripes, and Manny is still being Manny. The Red Sox owners have done wonders to a cramped Fenway Park, and have turned the lovable losers into lovable winners.

Enjoy this special time while you can, because you just might never see this unprecedented success and extraordinary talent involving Boston teams all at once ever again. Go Sox!

And don’t forget the Boston College Eagles, who are currently ranked second in the country in Division 1 college football, and your local Saugus Sachems, who are 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the Northeastern Conference Small Division after beating 2006 Super Bowl champ Winthrop, before losing to Beverly in a close contest, 19-14.

And so, there are no excuses to get out there and show support for your teams that have given you so many reasons to smile this year.

Robert Russo is a lifelong Saugonian, and former commissioner of the erstwhile Bush Wiffleball League.